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Feb. 7, 1956 H. F. HOUSE 2,733,971

FOLDING TABLE HAVING HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.15. 1954 HARRY/T HOUSE 'IIII'I'II'! "IIIIIII Attorney (w- Inventor Feb.7, 1956 F. HOUSE Filed Jan. 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tig 5 NM 1 w l. 4W31 35 u 26 I 1. L 1.

Inventor HARRYEHOUSE Arlorney Feb. 7, 1956 H. F. HOUSE 2,733,971

FOLDING TABLE HAVING HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Jan. 15, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 3 QM JGM,

Allurnqv 7 2,133,971 Patented Feb. '7, 1956 United States PatentOfficeFOLDING TABLE HAVING HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS Harry F. House, Gardena,Calif. I Application January 15, 1954', Serial No. 404,240 1 Claim. (Cl.31183) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tablesand more particularly to a table of the folding leg type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a folding leg typetable wherein construction is provided whereby the table can be extendedto a full height or to a lowered coffee table height and retained inthese positions without accidental variance.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a folding legtype table wherein unique latch means is provided for retaining thetable in full height or at an intermediate height, these adjustmentsbeing capable without manual exertion.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a tablestructure which can be adjusted to various heights and which can also beadjusted so that the table top is disposed in a manner to serve as afireplace screen if desired.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the table in full height andshowing the top in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional and perspective view showing thelatch means holding the table in full height position.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the table legs collapsed andthe table top in a vertical position.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the table construction,showing the same in lowered position to serve as a coffee table.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective and sectional view showing the legparts in cofiee table supported position.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view showing thelatch means in a position for supporting the table in full height toposition.

Figure 11 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view showing thelatch member in extended position for supporting the leg members incoffee table height position.

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure12.

Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view through the pivotal connectionof the legs.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view showing the pivotalconnection of one of the legs to the table top.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 20 denotes a table top which may be of anysuitable material and any desired shape and'this is reinforced by frame21.

Numeral 22 denotes a leg assembly and this leg assembly is attached to apair of boards or strips 23, 23, which bridge the frame 21 as suggestedin Figure 5. The leg assembly 22 is made up of two pairs of legconstructions and each leg construction is made up of a pair of crossedlegs 24, 25. The legs 24, 25 have outwardly diverged leg portions 24a,25a, as shown in Figure 1.

Between medial portions of the leg constructions is interposed a spacer26 through which a rod extends and this rod extends through the medialportions of the legs 24, 25 for pivotally connecting these legstogether. The ends of the pin are provided with cap nuts 27 and the pinitself is denoted by numeral 28.

Secure-d to the table top strips 23 are channeled brackets 29 in whichthe upper ends of the long legs 24 are pivotally secured by pins 30. Thelegs 25 are somewhat shorter than the legs 24, the upper ends of thelegs 25, as shown in Figure 1 being pivotally secured as at 31, inwardlyof its ends to the adjacent end of a link 32, which in turn has itsother end pivotally secured, as by pin 33 to a channeled bracket 34secured to the corresponding table top strip 23.

As shown in Figure 1 and also in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, the upperend of each of the legs 25 (the short legs) has a latch structuregenerally referred to by numeral 35, secured thereto. Each of theselatch members consists of a flanged right angularly formed body 36, oneend defining a projecting lug 37 and the other end a rounded head 38, aportion of its perimeter being removed, as at 39 to define a pair ofstop shoulders 40, 41. This end of the latch structure 35 is pivotallysecured to the short leg 25, by bolt or pin 42.

A short pin projects from the upper end of the short leg 25 adjacent itsend and projects into the reduced portion 39 of the rounded head 38 ofthe latch 35, as shown in Figure 9.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the table is completely collapsed and inthis position, the table top may be used as a fireplace screen, or ifdesired stored in a limited space such as in a closet.

With the structure as shown in Figure 4, the legs are compactly foldedand to set up the table, all that is necessary is to lift the lower edgeof the table top and this will pivot the legs outwardly to the positionshown in Figure 1, in which position of the legs, the latch structure 35is rotated on its pin 42 so that it will overlap the adjacent end of theshort link 32. The shoulder 40 of the latch head 38 will at this pointcontact the pin 43 and limit the movement of the latch structure. Withthe legs latched in this position, the table will assume the highposition shown in Figure 1.

Should it be desired to convert the table to a coflfee table height, thelatch structure 35 is rotated so that the lug 37 thereof will bedisposed longitudinally of the leg 25. The leg assembly can then bepivoted while the table top is being depressed and until the lugs 37engage the corresponding strips 23. Thus the legs will be stopped fromfurther folding and the table top will be retained at a coffee tablelevel. This eliminates the necessity of stop blocks or other structurecomplemental to the latch means 35.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A folding table construction comprising a table top, pairs of pivotallyconnected legs, each pair of legs con sisting of a long leg and a shortleg, 2. link interconnecting each of the short legs with the table top,latch means between the link members and the short legs, said latchmeans being operative to hold the link members and the short legs inalignment and movable to serve as abutments against the underside of thetable when the legs are partially folded and the table top depressed,said latch means comprising a pair of right angular bodies each having arounded head at the outer end of one arm thereof, said heads each beingpivoted to an upper References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES. PATENTS 2,106,309 Sweeney Jan. 25, 1938 2,432,192 Gaudette Dec.9, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 667,363 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1952

